Ofaira Ateeq
Husain shares with us the suggestions of Sheikh Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjid
Allah (swt) has preferred some times of the year over others in
the sense that the rewards for good deeds done during these periods get
multiplied many times. This encourages His servants to do more righteous deeds
and worship Him more, in order to prepare themselves for death and the Day of
Judgment. The Prophet (sa) said: “Being laid-back is best in every matter
except for good deeds.” (Abu Daawood & Al-Haakim)
Among the special seasons of worship are the first ten days of
Dhul-Hijjah, which Allah (swt) has preferred over all the other days of the
year. These days, which include the Day of Arafah and Eid Al-Adha, bring
Muslims an opportunity to correct their faults and make up for any
shortcomings. Ibn Abbas (rtam) reported that the Prophet (sa) said: “There are
no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days”
The people asked: “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said: “Not even Jihad
for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out, giving himself
and his wealth up for the cause (of Allah), and came back with nothing.”
(Al-Bukhari)
It is indeed a great mercy of Allah (swt) that the blessings of
Hajj spill over also to those, who are not making the pilgrimage but are
fasting on Dhul-Hijjah 9, the Day of Arafah. On this day, also known as the
Waqfah (standing), the pilgrims stand on and around the Mount of Mercy to ask
Allah’s (swt) forgiveness. When the sun sets on that day, all their past sins
are forgiven. If those, who are not making Hajj, fast on that day, the sins of
two years (the past and the coming one) are forgiven. (Muslim)
Abu Hurairah (rtam) relates that the Prophet (sa) said: “There
are no days more loved by Allah
(swt) for you to worship Him therein than the ten days of Dhul
Hijja. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year, and
offering Salatul Tahajjud (late night prayer) during one of its nights is like
performing the late night prayer on the night of power [i.e., Lailatul Qadr].”
(At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and al-Baihaqi)
In this season, the roads leading to goodness are numerous, so
we must not miss out on any of them. Allah (swt) has given us many ways, in
which to do good deeds and worship Him. Among the good deeds, which a Muslim
should strive to do during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are:
1. Salaah. A guided slave
of Allah (swt) would supply himself with optional Salaah during these ten days,
because it is a path to goodness and something that Allah (swt) loves. Abu
Hurairah (rtam) narrated that the Prophet (sa) said: “Salaah is the best thing
that one can do, so perform as many as you possibly can.” (At-Tabaraani) He (sa)
also said, as narrated by Abu Hurairah (rtam): “The son of Adam could not do
anything more beneficial for himself than Salaah, reconciliation (between
Muslims) and being well mannered.” (Al-Bayhaqi and others)
2. Fasting. It is Sunnah
to fast on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah. Hunaydah ibn Khalid quoted some of the
wives of the Prophet (sa) as saying: “The Prophet (sa) used to fast on the
ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, on the day of Ashurah, on three days of each month and on
the first two Mondays and Thursdays of each month.” (An-Nisa'i, 4/205)
3. Takbir. During the first
ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, it is Sunnah to say Takbir, Tahmid, Tahlil, and Tasbih
loudly in the mosque, the home, the street and every place, where it is
permitted to remember Allah (swt) and mention His name out loud, as an act of
worship and as a proclamation of the greatness of Allah (swt). Men should
recite these phrases out loud, and women should recite them quietly. Allah
(swt) says: “That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e.,
reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade), and
mention the name of Allah on appointed days (i.e. 10th, 11th,
12th, and 13th day of Dhul-Hijjah), over the beast of
cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice).” (Al-Hajj 22:28)
Abdullah ibn Umar (rtam) reported that the Prophet (sa) said:
“There are no days greater in the sight of Allah and in which righteous deeds
are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so during this time recite a great
deal of Tahleel (La Ilaaha Ill-Allah), Takbeer (Allahu Akbar) and Tahmeed (Al-Hamdu
Lillaah).” (Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shaakir stated that it is Saheeh)
4. Performing
Hajj and Umrah. One of the best deeds that one can do during these ten days is
to perform Hajj to the Sacred House of Allah (swt). The one, whom Allah (swt)
helps to offer Hajj to His House and to perform all the rituals properly, is
included in the words of the Prophet (sa): “An accepted Hajj brings no less a
reward than Paradise.”
5. Doing more
good deeds in general. This is because good deeds are beloved by Allah (swt) and earn
one a great reward. Whoever is not able to offer Hajj should occupy himself
during this blessed time with acts of worship, reading the Quran, remembering
Allah (swt), making supplications, giving in charity, showing dutifulness to parents,
maintaining the ties of kinship, enjoining what is good and forbidding what is
evil and other good deeds and acts of worship.
6. Sacrifice. Offering a
sacrificial animal is also among the most virtuous deeds that one can perform.
The Prophet (sa) said: “He, who does not offer a sacrifice while being
financially able to, let him not come close to our Masjid (i.e. pray with us).”
The Sunnah also indicates that the one, who wants to offer a
sacrifice on Eid-ul-Adha, must stop cutting his hair and nails and removing
anything from his skin, from the beginning of the ten days until after he has
offered his sacrifice, because the Prophet (sa) said: “When the ten days
(Dhu’l-Hijjah) have begun and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, then let
him not cut any of his hair or remove anything from his skin.” (Muslim) In
another narration, he (sa) said: “Let him not cut anything from his hair or
nails until he sacrifices.” (Ad-Daarimi)
7. Sincere
repentance. One of the most important things to do during these ten days is
to repent sincerely to Allah (swt) and to give up all kinds of disobedience and
sin.
Take advantage of these virtuous deeds, beware of laziness and
neglect and know that Allah (swt) has favoured certain days over others. Let us
use these opportunities and increase our righteous deeds. May Allah (swt)
forgive us our sins and shortcomings, Ameen.
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